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[caption id="attachment_32627" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Dr. Lisa Gunderson[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — When tackling racism and racial discrimination in the workplace, Dr. Lisa Gunderson advises members of the Defence Team to pull no punches. “You are either engaging in your thoughts, actions, and behaviors in trying to advocate for racial equity in the workplace, being anti-racist, disrupting or dismantling racist systems spaces, or perpetuating it,” said Gunderson. “There is no in-between.” On Apr. 25, Dr. Gunderson held a Q&A session as a follow-up to her first presentation, Micro-interventions, held on March 16 in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, part of the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy Speakers Series. Dr. Gunderson encourages military members, Department of National Defence civilian staff and others not to sit on the fence when it comes to confronting those who are perpetuating racialized violence or racist policies. The alternative is much worse, she explains, because it adds fuel to the fire and may make others assume you condone or accept racism. During the Q&A session, Dr. Gunderson shared her insights on how to confront racism in the workplace and provided advice for department managers setting up workplace training on racism. “I think my presentations went very well because there are so many people on the Defence Team who are already invested in fighting racism and sexism in their many forms,” she said. “Not only did the presentation provide a platform for people who want to hear these discussions and get involved, for others I think there was some learning going on.” Andrew Au, Budget Manager for MARPAC HQ and the Civilian Co-chair of the Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group (DVMAG), believes the popularity of Dr. Gunderson’s presentation provides further evidence that the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Armed Forces and its...

[caption id="attachment_32627" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Dr. Lisa Gunderson[/caption] Peter Mallett, Rédacteur — Lisa Gunderson conseille aux membres de l'équipe de défense de ne pas ménager leurs efforts lorsqu'ils s'attaquent à la discrimination raciale sur le lieu de travail. "Soit vous vous engagez, par vos pensées, vos actions et vos comportements, à défendre l'équité raciale sur le lieu de travail, à être antiraciste, à perturber ou à démanteler les espaces des systèmes racistes, soit vous les perpétuez", a déclaré Mme Gunderson. "Il n'y a pas d'entre-deux. Le 25 avril, le Dr Gunderson a tenu une séance de questions-réponses à la suite de sa première présentation, Micro-interventions, qui a eu lieu le 16 mars à l'occasion de la Journée internationale pour l'élimination de la discrimination raciale, dans le cadre de la série de conférences sur la stratégie en matière de santé et de bien-être des FMAR(P). Le Dr Gunderson encourage les militaires, le personnel civil du ministère de la Défense nationale et les autres personnes à ne pas rester les bras croisés lorsqu'il s'agit de confronter ceux qui perpétuent la violence raciale ou les politiques racistes. L'alternative est bien pire, explique-t-elle, car elle jette de l'huile sur le feu et peut amener les autres à penser que vous cautionnez ou acceptez le racisme. Au cours de la séance de questions-réponses, Mme Gunderson a fait part de son point de vue sur la manière d'affronter le racisme sur le lieu de travail et a donné des conseils aux directeurs de département qui organisent des formations sur le racisme sur le lieu de travail. "Je pense que mes présentations se sont très bien déroulées parce qu'il y a beaucoup de personnes dans l'équipe de défense qui sont déjà investies dans la lutte contre le racisme et le sexisme sous toutes leurs formes", a-t-elle déclaré. "Non seulement la...

Paul Seguna, LCdr (Ret’d) RCN, Special to the Lookout — No…this isn’t a session on how to declutter your life by lifestyle guru Marie Kondo! The “UNTiDys” was the jocular nickname for the University Naval Training Divisions (UNTD) program that ran from its official inception in 1943 during the Second World War to meet the demands of an expanding wartime navy until 1968. After its inception, the program provided naval officer training to 8,000 university students who served as naval reservists in war and peace. UNTD alumni went on to serve in the regular navy and naval reserve, with many assuming command roles including at flag rank; in public service positions and political offices; in business and academic careers of note or just as good Canadian citizens making a contribution to our national life with the qualities of teamwork, leadership and service above self they learned as young UNTD trainees. The UNTD program was followed by other iterations of reserve officer training programs, such as the tri-service Reserve Officer University Training Program (ROUTP) that replaced it in 1969 under the unification of the Canadian Forces. The UNTD Association of Canada (UNTDA) was formed in 2001 recognizing all those who served as naval reserve officers, whatever their training regime. This past November, during its Annual General Meeting (AGM), the UNTDA amended its bylaws to welcome both active and retired members of the naval reserve of all ranks into full membership. With one stroke of the pen, the opportunity for the creation of a new, wide-scoped naval reserve association for Canada’s Citizen Sailors was enabled. The UNTDA conference being held in Victoria from 9-12 May has an increased significance in this year of the Centennial of the Naval Reserve (NR100) as the association seeks to both celebrate the centennial and also serve as a...

Paul Seguna, LCdr (Ret’d) MRC, Spécial pour le Lookout — Non... il ne s'agit pas d'une séance sur la façon de désencombrer sa vie par le gourou du style de vie Marie Kondo ! Les "UNTiDys" étaient le surnom humoristique du programme des divisions universitaires de formation navale (UNTD) qui a été mis en œuvre depuis sa création officielle en 1943, pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale, afin de répondre aux besoins d'une marine en expansion en temps de guerre, jusqu'en 1968. Après sa création, le programme a assuré la formation d'officiers de marine à 8 000 étudiants universitaires qui ont servi en tant que réservistes de la marine en temps de guerre et en temps de paix. Les anciens élèves de l'UNTD ont ensuite servi dans la marine régulière et dans la réserve navale, nombre d'entre eux assumant des rôles de commandement, y compris au rang d’officier généraux, occupant des postes dans la fonction publique et des fonctions politiques, menant des carrières commerciales et universitaires remarquables ou, tout simplement, en tant que bons citoyens canadiens apportant une contribution à notre vie nationale grâce aux qualités de travail d'équipe, de leadership et de service au-dessus de soi-même qu'ils ont apprises en tant que jeunes stagiaires de l'UNTD. Le programme UNTD a été suivi par d'autres itérations de programmes de formation des officiers de réserve, tels que le Programme de formation universitaire des officiers de réserve (PFUOR), qui l'a remplacé en 1969 dans le cadre de l'unification des Forces canadiennes. L'UNTD Association of Canada (UNTDA) a été créée en 2001 en reconnaissance de tous ceux qui ont servi en tant qu'officiers de réserve de la marine, quel que soit leur régime de formation. En novembre dernier, lors de son assemblée générale annuelle (AGA), l'UNTDA a modifié ses statuts afin d'accueillir les membres actifs et...

[caption id="attachment_32600" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Calvin Hunt, Master Carver, with family and friends at the 20th Anniversary re-dedication of the Veterans Memorial totem pole at Veterans Memorial Lodge. Photos provided.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — For years, the legacy of Indigenous veterans has permeated one Victoria long-term care home in the shape of a majestic totem pole over the main entrance. On Apr. 26, staff and residents at Veterans Memorial Lodge, together with members of the Tsawout First Nation of Saanich, commemorated the 20th anniversary of the totem pole created with the help of Indigenous artist Calvin Hunt. Approximately 120,000 Indigenous, Métis and Inuit people served in the Canadian Armed Forces in major military conflicts of the 20th Century. The totem reflects this legacy, says Derrick Bernardo, Broadmead Care President and CEO. “We were honoured by the opportunity to spend time with Eric Pelkey, and Calvin Hunt who, along with his family and friends, took time out of their busy lives to travel to help commemorate the 20th anniversary of the totem pole.  We appreciated the openness with which they shared their culture with us, and were glad for the chance to learn more about the totem pole and its history.  Indigenous veterans sacrificed much for Canada, and it is our privilege and honour to be the custodians of such a monument to their service,” said Bernardo. The ceremony included stories about Indigenous veterans from the First World War to present day. Also attending the ceremony was Eric Pelkey, the WSÁNEĆ Leadership Council’s Community Engagement Coordinator and Hereditary Chief of Tsawout First Nation. Hunt, a master carver from Port Hardy and a member of the Kwakiutl First Nation. He created the totem pole in 2002 along with artists Mervin Child and John Livingston. The pole was unveiled in 2003 and depicts contributions and...

[caption id="attachment_32600" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Calvin Hunt, maître sculpteur, en compagnie de sa famille et de ses amis lors de la re-dédicace du totem du Veterans Memorial Lodge, à l'occasion de son 20e anniversaire.  Photos fournies.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Rédacteur — Depuis des années, l'héritage des anciens combattants autochtones imprègne une maison de soins de longue durée de Victoria sous la forme d'un totem majestueux au-dessus de l'entrée principale. Le 26 avril, le personnel et les résidents du Veterans Memorial Lodge, ainsi que des membres de la Première nation Tsawout de Saanich, ont commémoré le 20e anniversaire du totem créé avec l'aide de l'artiste autochtone Calvin Hunt. Environ 120 000 indigènes, métis et inuits ont servi dans les forces armées canadiennes lors des principaux conflits militaires du XXe siècle. Le totem reflète cet héritage, déclare Derrick Bernardo, président-directeur général de Broadmead Care. "Nous avons été honorés de pouvoir passer du temps avec Eric Pelkey et Calvin Hunt qui, avec sa famille et ses amis, ont pris le temps de voyager pour aider à commémorer le 20e anniversaire du totem.  Nous avons apprécié l'ouverture avec laquelle ils ont partagé leur culture avec nous, et nous avons été heureux d'avoir la chance d'en apprendre davantage sur le mât totémique et son histoire.  Les anciens combattants autochtones ont beaucoup sacrifié pour le Canada, et c'est un privilège et un honneur pour nous d'être les gardiens d'un tel monument à leur service", a déclaré M. Bernardo. La cérémonie a comporté des récits sur les anciens combattants autochtones, de la Première Guerre mondiale à aujourd'hui. Eric Pelkey, coordinateur de l'engagement communautaire du WSÁNEĆ Leadership Council et chef héréditaire de la Première nation Tsawout, a également assisté à la cérémonie. Hunt, maître sculpteur de Port Hardy et membre de la Première nation Kwakiutl. Il a créé le totem en 2002 avec les artistes Mervin Child et John Livingston. Le totem a été inauguré en 2003 et représente les contributions et les sacrifices des anciens combattants autochtones. "Certains éléments représentent le...

[caption id="attachment_32596" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Peter Chance shakes hands with Prince Edward and meets with Randall Mang, Chair of the B.C. Council for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Lieutenant-Commander (ret’d) Gerald Pash, a long-time member of the B.C. Council. Photo provided[/caption] Gerry Pash, Special to the Lookout — A 102-year-old Commander (retired) Peter Chance meets the new Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward. Chance’s meeting with Prince Edward took place on Apr. 27 at the Fairmount Pacific Hotel in Vancouver as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Ceremony. Chance told the Lookout his meeting with Prince Edward was highly rewarding.  “Our conversation was very pleasant, and this is because Prince Edward is a very personable man,” Chance said. “I wasn’t too nervous about the meeting; our exchange was very casual and pleasant. We talked about the great success of the awards program since it began.” It wasn’t the first time Chance has met with royalty. He previously met Prince Phillip, the founder of the program, when he founded the Duke of Edinburgh award in 1956.    Chance served a distinguished 31 years in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War and Korea, then for five years as the first Executive Officer at Osgoode Hall Law School. At 54 years of age, in 1974, he moved to British Columbia where he established the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as the founding Executive Director for Youth for BC/Yukon Division. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has inspired thousands of B.C. youth to reach for their best and discover their inner strengths and then take the lessons learned into productive lives and careers.  Chance was tasked with reaching out to schools, youth groups, municipal councils, and community members across B.C. to recruit volunteer leaders and community representatives. This was undertaken with a modest honorarium...

[caption id="attachment_32596" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Peter Chance serre la main du Prince Edward et rencontre Randall Mang, président du B.C. Council for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award et le Capitaine de corvette (ret'd) Gerald Pash, un membre de longue date du B.C. Council.  Photo fournie[/caption] Gerry Pash, Spécial pour le Lookout — Le capitaine de frégate (retraité) Peter Chance, âgé de 102 ans, rencontre le nouveau duc d'Édimbourg, le prince Édouard. La rencontre entre Peter Chance et le prince Edward a eu lieu le 27 avril au Fairmount Pacific Hotel à Vancouver, dans le cadre de la cérémonie de remise du Prix d'or du duc d'Édimbourg. Chance a déclaré au Lookout que sa rencontre avec le Prince Edward avait été très enrichissante.  "Notre conversation a été très agréable, et ce parce que le Prince Edward est un homme très sympathique", a déclaré M. Chance. "Je n'étais pas trop nerveux à l'idée de cette rencontre ; notre échange a été très décontracté et agréable. Nous avons parlé du grand succès du programme de récompenses depuis sa création. Ce n'était pas la première fois que M. Chance rencontrait des membres de la famille royale. Il avait déjà rencontré le prince Phillip, fondateur du programme, lorsqu'il avait créé le prix du Duc d'Édimbourg en 1956.   M. Chance a servi pendant 31 ans dans la Marine royale du Canada, au cours de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et de la guerre de Corée, puis a été pendant cinq ans le premier officier exécutif de l'Osgoode Hall Law School. À 54 ans, en 1974, il s'est installé en Colombie-Britannique où il a créé le Prix du Duc d'Édimbourg en tant que directeur exécutif fondateur de la division Youth for BC/Yukon. Le Prix du Duc d'Édimbourg a inspiré des milliers de jeunes de la Colombie-Britannique à donner le meilleur d'eux-mêmes,...

[caption id="attachment_32591" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo: “Trentonian off Land’s End on 22 February 1945”. The corvette has a slight heel to starboard, giving us a view into the ship; we can see members of the ship's company closed up at their respective stations throughout the ship. When this photo was taken, it was just a normal day at sea, escorting one of the many convoys. Missing from this photo but included in the article is William Kinsmen, Executive Officer.[/caption] Roger Litwiller, Canadian naval historian and author — On the first Sunday in May, Canadians gather across the nation to commemorate the service and sacrifices by our Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Battle of the Atlantic in the Second World War. The names of the ships lost will be called aloud and a bell will ring for each ship. During the service, each of us will repeat the promise, We Will Remember Them. Seldom do we talk about the Canadian sailors that lived, worked, fought, and died in those ships. Over 100,000 Canadians joined the RCN, Royal Canadian Navy Reserve (RCNR), Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR) and the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS). It is their service at sea and ashore that ultimately provided victory during the Battle of the Atlantic. We must honour their stories. One of the RCN ships lost during the war was the Increased Endurance corvette HMCS Trentonian. Built at Kingston, Ont., she was commissioned on Dec. 1, 1943, under the command of Lieutenant William Harrison, RCNR. Trentonian’s ship’s company was made up of sailors from across Canada. Corvettes were designed for just over 50 sailors to live in, work and fight, but Trentonian, like other Canadian corvettes, carried over 90 or more sailors. Of all these men, only one was Regular Force RCN. The vast majority...

[caption id="attachment_32594" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Photo : "Trentonian au large de Land's End le 22 février 1945". La corvette a une légère inclinaison à tribord, ce qui nous permet de voir l'intérieur du navire. On peut voir les membres de l'équipage du navire enfermés à leurs postes respectifs dans tout le navire. Lorsque cette photo a été prise, il s'agissait d'une journée normale en mer, à escorter l'un des nombreux convois. William Kinsmen, commandant en second, est absent de cette photo mais figure dans l'article.[/caption] Roger Litwiller, Historien naval et auteur canadien — Le premier dimanche de mai, les Canadiens se rassemblent dans tout le pays pour commémorer le service et les sacrifices de la Marine royale du Canada (MRC) au cours de la bataille de l'Atlantique pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale. Les noms des navires perdus seront prononcés à haute voix et une cloche sonnera pour chaque navire. Au cours de la cérémonie, chacun d'entre nous répétera la promesse "Nous nous souviendrons d'eux". Nous parlons rarement des marins canadiens qui ont vécu, travaillé, combattu et sont morts à bord de ces navires. Plus de 100 000 Canadiens ont rejoint la MRC, la Réserve de la Marine royale du Canada (RMRC), la Réserve des volontaires de la Marine royale du Canada (RVMRC) et le Service féminin de la Marine royale du Canada (WRCNS). C'est leur service en mer et à terre qui a permis de remporter la victoire lors de la bataille de l'Atlantique. Nous devons honorer leurs histoires. L'un des navires de la MRC perdus pendant la guerre est la corvette Increased Endurance, le NCSM Trentonian. Construite à Kingston, en Ontario, elle a été mise en service le 1er décembre 1943, sous le commandement du lieutenant William Harrison, de la MRC. L'équipage du Trentonian était composé de marins de tout le Canada....

Elizabeth Wolfe, Business Analyst/Technical Advisor, Naval Personnel and Training Group — In this series, we showcase digital leadership across the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) to illustrate how our enterprise solutions are successfully leveraged for the benefit of our teams. Born and raised in Calgary, Commander (Cdr) Donald Thompson-Greiff is the RCN’s Naval Personnel Manager based […]

[caption id="attachment_32486" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Capitaine de Frégate Donald Thompson-Greiff[/caption] Elizabeth Wolfe, Analyste commercial/conseiller technique, Groupe du personnel et de la formation de la marine — Dans cette série, nous présentons le leadership numérique au sein de la Marine royale canadienne (MRC) afin d'illustrer comment nos solutions d'entreprise sont exploitées avec succès au profit de nos équipes. Né et élevé à Calgary, le capitaine de frégate (capf) Donald Thompson-Greiff est le gestionnaire du personnel naval de la MRC basé à Ottawa. Avant de travailler à plein temps pour la MRC en 2002, le Capitaine de frégate Thompson-Greiff était inscrit à un programme d'ingénierie à l'Université de Calgary. Le programme d'études comprenait la programmation de logiciels ; il tenait également à maintenir les liens avec sa famille et ses amis pendant les cours et les missions militaires. Le fait de rester en contact avec ses proches et d'obtenir un diplôme de premier cycle à bord d'un navire et dans les cybercafés de divers ports étrangers lui a permis d'acquérir une solide connaissance des communications numériques. Au fur et à mesure que les responsabilités professionnelles du Capitaine de frégate Thompson-Greiff se sont accrues, l'utilisation de la technologie et ses applications au sein des Forces armées canadiennes se sont également complexifiées. Dans son rôle actuel, il est essentiel de faciliter efficacement les réunions dans les espaces numériques, comme c'est le cas pour de nombreux membres du personnel du ministère de la Défense nationale. D365 et les produits basés sur le cloud sont essentiels pour réunir des équipes disparates réparties à différents endroits. Favoriser la maîtrise du numérique, en particulier pour la collaboration en ligne, exige à la fois la persistance et la répétition de ces compétences périssables. Pour des réunions numériques et hybrides réussies, le Cdr Thompson-Greiff recommande ce qui suit : Partager à l'avance un...

Jessie Wyllie, CFMWS Health Promotion — One in five Canadians experience a mental illness, but five in five of us have mental health #MyStory Mental Health Awareness Week is all about promoting behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being, support good mental health, and create a culture of understanding and acceptance here at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC). Over the past year, the Mental and Social Wellness Working group within the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy has worked hard on the installation of six beautiful wellness benches. These benches have been placed in various locations around both Naden and Dockyard (see map for specific locations). The purpose of these benches is to reduce stress by providing outdoor space for individuals to enjoy a wellness break and to foster social connection and inclusion. This year, the theme for Mental Health Week is all about ‘My Story’. While we recognize that one in five Canadians experience a mental illness or mental health issue, every single one of us has mental health and has their own story. Finding ways to take care of our mental health is so important and is unique to each of us. Get some inspiration and ideas on ways you can ‘live in the green’ from some of the various members within our CAF community! Are you living in the green?   Capt(N) Sebastien Richard “Personally, I use sports as a stress relief to stay in the green, as well as long walks with my dog or going for a bike ride; keeping up with each of those seems to work best for me.”   LCol (Padre) Catherine Askew “To stay in the green, I do traditional Cree bead work. It’s how I regained part of my identity and culture as we move away from the history of residential schools.”   A/SLt Lia MacDonald “I go for runs, play board games, and practice mindful muscle relaxation techniques to help me stay in the green.”   Steve Faust “The goal as a peer advisor...

Jessie Wyllie, Promotion de la santé du SMFC — Un Canadien sur cinq souffre d'une maladie mentale, mais cinq sur cinq d'entre nous ont une santé mentale #MyStory La Semaine de sensibilisation à la santé mentale vise à promouvoir des comportements et des attitudes qui favorisent le bien-être et la santé mentale, et à créer une culture de compréhension et d'acceptation au sein des Forces maritimes du Pacifique (FMAR(P)). Au cours de la dernière année, le groupe de travail sur le bien-être mental et social de la Stratégie de santé et de bien-être des FMAR(P) a travaillé d'arrache-pied à l'installation de six magnifiques bancs de bien-être. Ces bancs ont été placés à divers endroits de Naden et de l'arsenal maritime (voir la carte pour les emplacements spécifiques). L'objectif de ces bancs est de réduire le stress en offrant un espace extérieur aux personnes pour qu'elles puissent profiter d'une pause bien-être et favoriser le lien social et l'inclusion. Cette année, le thème de la semaine de la santé mentale est "Mon histoire". Si nous reconnaissons qu'un Canadien sur cinq souffre d'une maladie mentale ou d'un problème de santé mentale, chacun d'entre nous a une santé mentale et sa propre histoire. Il est très important de trouver des moyens de prendre soin de notre santé mentale, qui sont propres à chacun d'entre nous. Trouvez l'inspiration et des idées sur les façons de " vivre au vert " auprès de certains membres de la communauté des FAC ! Vivez-vous dans le vert ? Capitaine de vaisseau Sébastien Richard "Personnellement, j'utilise le sport comme moyen de soulager le stress pour rester au vert, ainsi que les longues promenades avec mon chien ou les randonnées à vélo.   Lcol (Padre) Catherine Askew "Pour rester dans le vert, je fais du perlage traditionnel cri. C'est ainsi que j'ai retrouvé une partie de mon identité et de ma culture alors que nous nous éloignons de l'histoire des pensionnats.   Le s.é.-m. Lia MacDonald "Je vais courir, je joue à...

SISIP Financial — Whether you’re preparing to relocate, looking to refresh your budget, or trying to maintain your current lifestyle, these tips can help maximize every dollar you earn. 1. Track your spending Before you know where you can ‘trim the fat’, you want to identify what you’re currently spending money on. Note how you spend money each month and where you may be seeing the biggest price increases on household goods and services. Look for fluctuations in spending. Are there months with many birthdays when you may need more for gifts? Or perhaps you redirect spending when a member is on tour? Childcare costs may increase temporarily, for example, but you find you’re spending less on gas. 2. Create a budget Having a budget may seem restrictive, but a money plan buys more freedom. Sound cliché? With an accurate plan, you can avoid impulse purchases and consider where to spend less, how to pay down debt quicker and save money. Tip: Look at hidden costs such as subscriptions and auto-payments. Are you using that museum pass or streaming service, or have you delayed cancelling? Some subscription service providers will allow you to pause temporarily in the summer months or when you’re deployed and unable to take full advantage of the service. 3. Pay down debt faster Every Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member and veteran gets free financial advice through SISIP Financial. Ask your advisor if you’re in a good financial position to pay more than minimum payments on your debt, especially on high-interest loans such as credit cards. For mortgages and lines of credit, you could benefit from boosting payments now, especially if you’re locked in at a low payback interest rate. You’ll thank yourself when you renew. 4. Look for deals on everything CAF members, veterans and their families...

Financier du RARM 1. Suivez vos dépenses Avant de savoir où vous pouvez " couper le gras ", vous devez déterminer ce pour quoi vous dépensez actuellement de l'argent. Notez comment vous dépensez votre argent chaque mois et où vous constatez les plus fortes augmentations de prix sur les biens et services ménagers. Recherchez les fluctuations des dépenses. Y a-t-il des mois où il y a beaucoup d'anniversaires et où vous avez besoin de plus d'argent pour les cadeaux ? Ou peut-être réorientez-vous vos dépenses lorsqu'un membre de votre famille est en déplacement ? Les frais de garde d'enfants peuvent augmenter temporairement, par exemple, mais vous vous apercevez que vous dépensez moins en essence. 2. Établir un budget L'établissement d'un budget peut sembler contraignant, mais un plan financier permet d'acquérir une plus grande liberté. Ça semble cliché ? Avec un plan précis, vous pouvez éviter les achats impulsifs et envisager où dépenser moins, comment rembourser vos dettes plus rapidement et économiser de l'argent. Conseil : Examinez les coûts cachés tels que les abonnements et les paiements automatiques. Utilisez-vous cet abonnement à un musée ou à un service de streaming, ou avez-vous retardé l'annulation de votre abonnement ? Certains fournisseurs de services d'abonnement vous permettent de faire une pause temporaire pendant les mois d'été ou lorsque vous êtes déployé et que vous ne pouvez pas profiter pleinement du service. 3. Remboursez vos dettes plus rapidement Tous les membres et vétérans des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) ont droit à des conseils financiers gratuits par l'entremise de la Financière SISIP. Demandez à votre conseiller si vous êtes en bonne position financière pour payer plus que les paiements minimums sur vos dettes, en particulier sur les prêts à taux d'intérêt élevé comme les cartes de crédit. Dans le cas des hypothèques et des marges...

[caption id="attachment_32469" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Grilse bell stolen from Langford front yard.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — A Langford family continues their hunt to recover a decades-old family heirloom – a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ship’s bell stolen from their front yard. The large brass bell, which weighs approximately 50lbs, once belonged to the former Balao-class submarine HMCS Grilse during the height of the Cold War. Following the ship’s decommissioning in 1969, the bell was gifted to Clyde Rose, a Grilse engine room worker. Since then, it hung in front of the Rose family home from a steel lamp post. Michael Rose, Clyde’s son, says the bell disappeared sometime between Apr. 16 and 17. “I was shocked when I first noticed the bell had been removed from the post,” he said. “Dad cherished that bell and had it professionally polished and cared for, and even went to the trouble of replacing the bell’s knotted rope.” Clyde served 35 years in the RCN, mostly as a mechanical engineer, and retired at the rank of Chief Engine Room Artificer (ERA) in charge of ship’s engine rooms. A bell from a decommissioned ship is one of the many items aboard often gifted to the crew. The memories it provided after its days in the Navy are priceless, Michael said.  “I grew up in that house and whenever Dad’s friends from the Navy would come to the house to visit, they would ring the bell at the top of the driveway to let us know they had arrived,” he said. Clyde has recently moved into a senior’s home. In recent weeks, Michael and his wife Maureen had been emptying the home of its contents. When Michael returned to Clyde’s home on the morning of Apr. 17, he was disappointed to see the bell had been ripped from its post. “Dad had taken great effort to secure the bell to the post so it couldn’t be stolen but the thieves simply cut the top of the post...

Peter Mallett, Rédacteur en chef — Une famille de Langford poursuit sa quête pour retrouver un héritage familial vieux de plusieurs décennies : une cloche de navire de la Marine royale canadienne (MRC) volée dans sa cour. La large cloche en laiton, qui pèse environ 50 livres, appartenait à l'ancien sous-marin de classe Balao, le NCSM Grilse, au plus fort de la guerre froide. Après avoir décommissionné le navire en 1969, la cloche a été offerte à Clyde Rose, un ouvrier de la salle des machines du Grilse. Depuis, elle est suspendue à un lampadaire en acier devant la maison de la famille Rose. Michael Rose, le fils de Clyde, affirme que la cloche a disparu entre le 16 et le 17 avril. "J'ai été choqué lorsque j'ai remarqué pour la première fois que la cloche n’était plus sur le poteau", a-t-il déclaré. "Papa chérissait cette cloche et l'avait fait polir et entretenir par des professionnels. Il s'était même donné la peine de remplacer la corde à nœuds de la cloche. Clyde a servi 35 ans dans la MRC, principalement en tant qu'ingénieur mécanicien, et a pris sa retraite avec le grade d'artificier en chef de la salle des machines (ERA) à titre de responsable des salles des machines du navire. Une cloche provenant d'un navire décommissionné est l'un des nombreux objets offerts à l'équipage. Les souvenirs qu'elle a laissés après son passage dans la marine sont inestimables, a déclaré Michael.  "J'ai grandi dans cette maison et chaque fois que les amis marins de mon père venaient nous rendre visite, ils sonnaient la cloche en haut de l'allée pour nous faire savoir qu'ils étaient arrivés", raconte-t-il. Clyde a récemment emménagé dans une maison de retraite. Ces dernières semaines, Michael et sa femme Maureen ont vidé la maison de son contenu. Lorsque Michael...

[caption id="attachment_32462" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Capc Tyler Smith, commandant du NCSM Edmonton[/caption] Capitaine Chelsea Dubeau, OAP MARPAC — Après près de trois mois en mer, l'équipage du Navire canadien de Sa Majesté (NCSM) Edmonton a reçu un accueil chaleureux de la part de ses amis et de sa famille à son arrivée à Esquimalt le vendredi 28 avril. Le navire a été déployé dans le cadre de l'opération Caribbe, la contribution du Canada aux opérations renforcées de lutte contre les stupéfiants menées par les États-Unis dans le Pacifique Est. Depuis son départ d'Esquimalt le 13 février, le navire et son équipage ont visité plusieurs ports le long de la côte de l'Amérique du Nord et de l'Amérique centrale, ont effectué des patrouilles et ont travaillé avec des nations alliées. Plusieurs faits marquants sont survenus en cours de route, mais le plus important s'est produit alors que le NCSM Edmonton approchait de la fin de son déploiement : l'interception réussie d'un navire suspect qui a permis d'intercepter 755 kilogrammes de cocaïne (d'une valeur marchande estimée à 49,5 millions de dollars canadiens). Au moment de l'interception, le NCSM Edmonton faisait partie d'un groupe d'action de surface (GAS) aux côtés de deux garde-côtes américains (USCGC) Active et Benjamin Bottoms, et d'un hélicoptère MH-65 Dolphin, embarqué à bord de l'USCGC Active. "C'était comme regarder un film d'action de près", a déclaré le matelot de troisième classe (mat 3) Vincent Tan, opérateur d’équipement d’informations de combat  (OP EICM) à bord du NCSM Edmonton, qui a aidé à suivre le navire depuis la salle des opérations. "J'ai également fait le guet pour repérer les ballots de contrebande dans l'eau à l'aide de mes jumelles. L'un des meilleurs aspects d'un déploiement avec la Marine - en dehors de la contribution à la sécurité maritime - est le voyage. Heureusement, ce...

[caption id="attachment_32462" align="aligncenter" width="595"] LCdr Tyler Smith, Commanding Officer, HMCS Edmonton[/caption] Captain Chelsea Dubeau, MARPAC PAO — After nearly three months at sea, the crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Edmonton received a warm welcome home from friends and family following their arrival in Esquimalt on Friday, April 28. The ship was deployed on Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to U.S.-led Enhanced Counter-narcotics Operations in the Eastern Pacific. Since its departure from Esquimalt on Feb. 13, the ship and crew visited several ports along the coast of North and Central America, conducted patrols, and worked alongside partner nations. There were several highlights along the way, but the most impactful came as HMCS Edmonton was nearing the end of its deployment: the successful interception of a suspicious vessel that resulted in the interdiction of 755 kilograms of cocaine (worth an estimated street value of $49.5 million CAD). At the time of the interdiction, HMCS Edmonton had been operating as part of a Surface Action Group (SAG) alongside two U.S. Coast Guard Cutters (USCGC) Active and Benjamin Bottoms, and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, embarked on USCGC Active. “It was like watching an action movie up close,” said Sailor Third Class (S3) Vincent Tan, a Naval Combat Information Operator (NCIOP) on board HMCS Edmonton, who helped track the vessel from the Operations Room. “I also acted as lookout for any bales of contraband in the water using the big eyes and binoculars.” One of the best parts of a Navy deployment – outside of contributing to maritime security – is the travel. Fortunately, this deployment delivered both.  “I could never take a family vacation growing up or travel much until I was in my 20s,” said Sailor First Class (S1) Eaden Bowler, a boatswain on board HMCS Edmonton. “So, travelling and seeing new parts of the world for my job is a great reward. And disrupting the flow of drugs coming in is why I really wanted to come on this deployment.” “The crew is...

Peter Mallett, Rédacteur — Le maître de première classe (m 1) Louis Beaudet, responsable de la sécurité générale et de l'environnement au Groupe du personnel et de l’instruction de la Marine (GPIM), n'a pas besoin d'être convaincu du succès du Défi-vélo de la marine de cette année. "La randonnée est toujours agréable et crée de la camaraderie entre amis ; elle permet également de rencontrer de nouvelles personnes et de se faire de nouveaux amis", a-t-il déclaré. Fondée en 2016, le Défi-vélo de la Marine encourage le bien-être et la santé des communautés et des familles par le biais de randonnées cyclistes non compétitives. L'événement fera son retour en personne cette année, remplaçant les événements virtuels organisés ces trois dernières années pendant les restrictions de la COVID-19. C'est également la première fois que le Défi-vélo de la Marine se déroulera sur la côte ouest, les événements précédents ayant eu lieu à Esquimalt et sur le sentier ferroviaire E&N. Cet événement familial et non compétitif est ouvert à tous les cyclistes militaires et civils. Le m 1 Beaudet fait partie des Forces armées canadiennes depuis 35 ans et participe au Défi-vélo de la Marine depuis 2017. En octobre 2022, le m 1 Beaudet s'est joint au groupe de travail sur la vie active des Forces maritimes du Pacifique (FMAR(P)) et s'est engagé à promouvoir les bienfaits du conditionnement physique et les nombreux programmes offerts aux militaires et à leurs familles. "Je fais de mon mieux pour convaincre d'autres membres de la base de voir les avantages du vélo et d'abandonner leur véhicule énergivore et le stress des trajets quotidiens pour une bicyclette", a-t-il déclaré. "Je suis donc impatient de partager mon amour du vélo avec les autres membres de l'équipe de la défense et l'ensemble de la communauté à l'occasion du Défi-vélo de...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Louis Beaudet, General Safety and Environmental Officer at Naval Personnel Training Group (NPTG), needs little convincing this year’s Navy Bike Ride will be a success. “The ride is always enjoyable and creates camaraderie among friends; it also allows to meet new people and make new friends,” he said. Founded in 2016, the Navy Bike Ride encourages the well-being and health of communities and families through non-competitive cycling tours. The event will make its in-person return this year replacing virtual events held for the past three years during COVID-19 restrictions. This year will also mark the first time the Navy Bike Ride will be held on the West Shore, with previous events held in Esquimalt and on the E&N Rail Trail. The non-competitive, family-themed event is open to all military and civilian cyclists. PO1 Beaudet has been with the Canadian Armed Forces for 35 years and has participated in the Navy Bike Ride since 2017. In October 2022, PO1 Beaudet joined Martime Forces Pacific’s (MARPAC) Active Living Working Group and became engaged in promoting the benefits of fitness and the many programs available to military members and their families. “I try my best to convince others from the Base to see the benefits of cycling and abandon their gas-guzzling vehicles and the stress of commuting in exchange for a bicycle,” he said. “Riding my bicycle always brings me peace of mind so I’m really looking forward to sharing my love of cycling with other members of the Defence Team and the entire community at the Navy Bike Ride.” During the lockdown when the Navy Bike Ride went to a virtual format, PO1 Beaudet led all cyclists aboard HMCS Vancouver in a unit cycling challenge to see who could log the longest distance. The 52-year-old, originally from Trois-Rivieres, Que., has been a recreational cyclist all of his life. When he moved to the West Coast in 1998, cycling became a larger part of his...

Thomas Goenczi, Lookout Contributor — We kind of know when the right time is to go to therapy, sometimes we’re sort of ready for it, but can we ever be certain? Deciding when to see a counsellor is slightly different from going to see a doctor. Typically, you see your doctor because something with your health needs immediate attention. Even though there has been traction with the importance of mental health at large, it is difficult to gauge when one should seek help. Deciding to seek mental health support isn’t as easy as waking up one day and looking in the mirror, and saying, ‘Hmm… today seems like a good day to get my head checked out’. There is a process to making that choice. Sometimes, the route to making that decision is almost instantaneous, but sometimes that decision is comprised of an arduous internal war. Still, there are four common considerations one can make. Rationality. At times, what concludes our inner debate of whether or not we should go to counselling is being able to build up a case cognitively to justify it. Making the decision to go to therapy is no small feat. Sometimes, the mental gymnastics we perform would win us a gold medal at the Rationality Olympics. ‘I don’t have time’, ‘My issues aren’t big enough’, ‘Once I start working on myself, I’ll have to commit to changing’ and ‘I’m just not ready yet’ have all been deployed successfully at one point in time. It is why strictly using rationality to decide to come to therapy is often not enough, especially if one wants it to be successful. CHECKING IN WITH YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH Questions to ask yourself: Is my body functioning to a level where I am capable of attaining my goals? Are there nagging injuries that...

[caption id="attachment_32410" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, Commander MARPAC/JTF(P), presents the Commander Royal Canadian Navy Unit Commendation to Maryse Neilson, Health Promotion Manager and member of the MARPAC Health and Wellness Strategy.[/caption] The award, presented April 11, stated: “Since its creation in 2012, the Maritime Forces Pacific Health and Wellness Team has served the Formation and led Royal Canadian Navy initiatives over the past decade. This robust team of 90 personnel have prioritized five key areas: active living, addiction-free living, healthy nutrition, organizational wellness, and mental and social wellness. Many of these Formation initiatives have been adopted throughout the Navy and Canadian Armed Forces, including top fuel menus for Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), the Healthy Nutrition Environment Policy, and the creation of the cannabis policy posters. Their promotion of health, wellness, and positive space awareness programs on behalf of the Maritime Forces Pacific Defence Community have made enormous contributions to the overall physical and mental well-being of Royal Canadian Navy personnel.” Signed by CRCN, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee  

  [caption id="attachment_32407" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Post-war Wrens doing drill at HMCS Cornwallis. Photos courtesy of the RCN)[/caption] A/SLt Pascale Guindon, HMCS Carleton — Canada’s Naval Reserve history is full of courage and sacrifice. As part of the Naval Reserve Centennial, we are proud to commemorate our heritage and the legacy left by those before us, including the trailblazing women of the naval reserve force who proved to the country, and themselves, their ability to serve with distinction, laying the foundation for greater gender equality in the Canadian Armed Forces. Oh merry, oh merry, oh merry are we; For we are the girls of the King’s Navy. When Canada’s Naval Reserve volunteer force was established in 1923, women were not included. It took a global conflict nearly 20 years later for the Navy to realize the value women bring to the service. The Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) ships which fought for Canada and for freedom during the Second World War (1939-45) were crewed not only by Regular Force officers and sailors, but also by wartime volunteers. These volunteers were the men of the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), as well as the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve (RCNR), comprised primarily of professional sailors by trade. Canada’s wartime naval Volunteer Reserve force at peak strength was 78,000 strong. Along with this legion of men, however, was another notable group of citizen sailors which bolstered Canada’s naval contribution to the war effort: the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS). The WRCNS was a separate service, the members of which enlisted for the duration of hostilities, making it a reserve force. Established in July 1942, the WRCNS began recruiting women to serve in shore-based trades thus freeing men for active duty at sea. By the time it was disbanded in August 1946, nearly 7,000 Canadian women had served as ‘Wrens’ with the WRCNS. Stationed in R.C.N.V.R. Divisions The WRCNS interacted with Naval Reserve Divisions (NRD) across the country. From a tactical point of view, the responsibility...

SISIP Financial Esquimalt — Life insurance has many purposes. Primarily, insurance looks after your family or dependents if you’re no longer there to provide for them. The amount of insurance you need depends on many factors, including your occupation, lifestyle, income, assets, debts, the needs of your dependents, and affordability. Insurance needs are unique to the individual and may change as your life circumstances change. Only an insurance advisor can help determine what’s right for you. Here are some of the things they will consider. Occupation What you do in your day-to-day career is a consideration for insurers. Canadian Armed Forces members have an element of risk in their occupations, which is considered when determining the best insurance policy for you and your families. SISIP Financial offers life insurance policies with no exemptions for war and dangerous occupations. You may also have some employee benefits in place. Your insurance advisor can help you find the best policy to match your occupational needs and complement the coverage you have through your employer. Lifestyle Life can be adventurous, and you’ll want a policy that takes into account your pastimes. Maybe you’re a boating enthusiast, or you like rock climbing. Perhaps you spend your time off touring on all-terrain vehicles or snowmobiling. Insurance is a risk mitigation tool and you can choose coverage that takes into account your active lifestyle. Life insurance through SISIP Financial supports your lifestyle and offers policies that don’t exclude dangerous hobbies or occupations. Debts If something happens to you, you don’t want your family to struggle to pay money owing. A mortgage is often one of the biggest debts people carry. You may also have student loans, a line of credit or a car loan. When determining how much coverage you need, these are top factors. If you have...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The Period Poverty Challenge is on, encouraging friendly competition between the Royal Canadian Navy’s two bases in Halifax and Esquimalt. The gauntlet will determine which base can raise the most donations of menstrual hygiene products during the month of May. The civilian co-chairs of the Defence Women’s Advisory Organizations (DWAO) of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) and Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) issued the challenge last week during a Microsoft Teams meeting. Donation boxes for menstrual hygiene products including pads, tampons and panty liners, menstrual cups and period panties, will be set up at strategic locations in Esquimalt and Halifax to support the United Way’s Period Promise Campaign. The contest begins May 1 and concludes on May 28, coinciding with World Menstrual Hygiene Day. “There is definitely some trash talking going on by both sides but there is no hiding from the truth as the ‘Best Coast’ is about to defeat the beast of the East,” said Vanessa Nicholson, event organizer for the Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) DWAO. Holly Scothorn, Civilian Co-Chair for Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARPAC), begged to differ. “No question, Halifax is going to win because Atlantic Canada is known to be super generous and much better at making charitable donations than the West,” she countered. The losing side will pay a bigger price than finishing in second place. As part of the challenge, the losing DWAO will be forced to toss their group’s military Champion into the cold waters of Halifax or Esquimalt Harbour. In Halifax, Captain (Navy) (Capt(N)) Jonathan Lafontaine has been put on notice that he may take the plunge into the not-so pristine waters of Halifax Harbour, while in Esquimalt, Capt(N) Peter Sproule is counting on the donations to avoid the chilly waters of the Pacific. Financial peril All good-natured trash talking aside,...

In partnership with the Defence Advisory Groups and the Director Anti-Racism Implementation, we are pleased to announce the call for nominations for the second cohort of the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO) / Centre on Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) Mosaic Leadership Development Program, set to begin in June 2023. We are currently accepting applications from equity-seeking employees interested in participating in this 15-month long program that aims to remove barriers for diverse communities and develop future leaders. The Mosaic Leadership Development program: is a program for increasing diversity in leadership positions; is a federal public service-wide program; includes sponsorship, learning and experience-building components; provides assignments or secondment opportunities for participants; and provides successful participants an assessment for a potential appointment to an EX-01 position. Who is eligible to participate? Employees who have occupied a substantive position equivalent to EX minus 1 for at least one year; Employees who have neither qualified on an EX-01 process nor are currently in an EX-pool (Mosaic is centered on developing the skills and abilities related to the Key Leadership Competences for executives; those that are already in an EX-01 pool have already demonstrated these); and Employees who self-declare as a member of an equity-seeking group*. Employees do not need to have identified this prior, but self-declaration is required to apply to Mosaic. * Equity-seeking groups, for the purposes of Mosaic, means the four Employment Equity groups – women, Indigenous Peoples, members of visible minorities, and persons with a disability – subgroups within these four, and 2SLGBTQI+ communities. All applications received by the deadline below will be reviewed in consultation with the Defence Advisory Groups and the Director Anti-Racism Implementation teams. Two eligible candidates will be nominated to the OCHRO / CDI. Once submitted, the OCHRO / CDI selection committee will choose...

[caption id="attachment_32390" align="alignnone" width="595"] Base Commander Captain (Navy) Jeffrey Hutchinson and Base Chief Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer Al Darragh salute after laying a wreath at the Esquimalt Cenotaph on April 16, 2023. Photo: Corporal Tristan Walach, Canadian Armed Forces.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — The crew of HMCS Esquimalt and their family are in the thoughts and prayers of Victoria’s military community. A memorial service in the ship’s namesake city on Apr. 16 at Memorial Park paid tribute to the last Canadian warship lost in the Second World War and the 39 crew who died in the attack, 78 years to the day of the tragedy. “That HMCS Esquimalt went down within the view of Halifax reminds us the Second World War did not just happen over there,” said LCdr (ret’d) Gerry Pash. “Of the 24 Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) ships lost during the Second World War, 11 went down in went down in Canadian and Newfoundland waters and some in the St. Lawrence River, only a few hours’ drive from Quebec City.” Many of those serving on board the diesel-powered Bangor-class minesweeper were members of the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), emphasized Pash, the ceremony’s emcee. Esquimalt was on anti-submarine patrol, five miles off Chebucto Head on the morning of Apr. 16, 1945. The ship was struck by a torpedo fired from German Submarine U-190. The attack occurred just three weeks before the end of the war in Europe. ‘Many died of exposure’ An article on the website of the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum entitled Within Sight of Shore by historian Robert C. Fisher gives a gripping blow-by-blow account of the attack. The author recalls how “poor sonar conditions off Halifax made the detection of submerged or bottomed U-Boats difficult at the best of times.” Only 27 of the minesweeper’s 71 crew survived.  Lieutenant (Lt) Robert MacMillan of the RCNVR, Esquimalt’s Commanding Officer, had orders to carry out their patrol and then rendezvous with HMCS Sarnia off...

[caption id="attachment_32370" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Protecteur. Photo: Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Robert Stirrup on commons.wikimedia.org[/caption] Thomas Goenczi — Like many before me and many after me, I left the Royal Canadian Navy looking forward to the future ahead. My claim to infamy was being a crew member on HMCS Protecteur when the engine room fire occurred. All the training we received beforehand more than likely saved our lives. I am forever grateful for every member of that ship. After the soot settled, the rumblings began. The question, 'how close were we really to sinking to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean?' permeated everyone’s mind. The fire and the precipitating thoughts and emotions became a psychic time bomb for me. Tick. Tock. Every distraction under the sun was deployed; I even started university again to try to delay the inevitable. You bet it worked; I felt invincible; I mean, I just survived an engine room fire on a 45-year-old tanker, how could I not be inflated? Six months after getting home, I began experiencing serious symptoms of Crohn’s disease. My symptoms eventually went into remission, but it was merely the calm before the storm. Tick. Tock. Three years later, I slipped into one of the darkest times in my life. Boom. I experienced depression for months until I eventually mustered the fortitude to go to the base hospital and seek help. To this day, I believe it took me just as much courage to walk to the base hospital for my mental health as it was to be a crew member on the Protecteur. My faith constantly waxed and waned throughout counselling. There were days I didn’t think I would make it. Then, finally, I decided to voluntarily release and move to Tofino to decompress. I eventually came back to Victoria and completed my Master’s in Counselling. This led me to open a private practice, Well Then Therapy, in the hopes of helping active duty members and veterans deal with some...